Evening Capital

The Wilmington (Del.) Every Evening gives the following remarkable rapid construction of an immense building in that city within the short space of time of six weeks—under the superintendency of Mr. Thomas J. Wier, a former Annapolitan, and one of the most expert mechanics of the day.

We always said Annapolis was too slow a place for Tom, and some years ago he emigrated from the "Ancient City" to Wilmington, Del., where his mechanical genius could have full scope.

The following is the account given in the above paper, which we take pleasure in copying and which no doubt will be gratifying to his many friends here:

Just before the close of the last year William Lawton announced to his friends and neighbors that he had made a contract which promised that the large new building he proposed putting up on Market street between Sixth and Seventh would be fully constructed in six weeks' time.

People laughed at Mr. Lawton's assertion. His friends thought it a mere pleasantry of his, while contractors and builders said it was impossible.

But the plastering was finished last night, and the construction part of the building is entirely completed.

Such an instance of building enterprise was unheard of in Wilmington.

The way it has been done and the speed and thoroughness of the work is most creditable to Superintendent Thomas Wier.

For the last two weeks the new structure has been visited by hundreds of citizens desirous of seeing with their own eyes how building construction could be accomplished so marvelously quickly.

At one time 45 mechanics, bricklayers, carpenters and plasterers were at work at once.

Nine stoves were kept fired up all the time to dry the walls and keep the workmen comfortable.

It was quite an interesting sight to witness the lathers and plasterers flying along with their work, and the monkey-like celerity of the hod carriers as they slid up and down the ladders from basement to top story.

The interior of the building, ever since the construction of the walls has been a human hive of industry.

Much more work has been actually accomplished within the six weeks, as the cellar had to be excavated and the old building torn down.

Besides for a whole week, during the most severe part of January, when the thermometer was very near zero, work ceased entirely.

Mr. Lawton is very much pleased over the way the work has been done and makes no effort to conceal the gratification at the discomfiture of those of his friends who continually asserted their disbelief in the possibility of the building being completed within the promised time.

Some wag, taking advantage of the opportunity to exhibit his poetic ability tacked up the following lines upon the brick wall of the Shipley street entrance of the new building:

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT.

'Tis time, dear friends, to make amends,

And utter words of praise,

For in six weeks, the truth here speaks

Did Jack this great house raise.

List to the song, 'twill not be long,

The place speaks for itself,

So sing ding, dong,

John and Frank both wrong,

And laid upon the shelf.